Much like many sidewalks in the region, what is the purpose of trails if they don’t provide connections to nearby destinations?
The Mississippi River Greenway passes and parallels within 16ft of the roads surrounding River City Casino. Yet, despite getting so close, not a single connection exists between the casino roads and the “adjacent” trail much less the casino itself. A hike through the grass is required to reach the trail.
For a while, this 1/2 mile section of trail was an isolated segment that did not connect anywhere to anywhere. Recently, a one mile extension of the trail was built that connected the River City Casino segment to the Jefferson Barracks system of trails (this new segment, by the way, is one of the most breathtaking and beautiful trails of anywhere in the St. Louis region). Great Rivers Greenway is, also, actively planning a much larger extension to the north to complete the Mississippi River Greenway all the way to the Gateway Arch.
But there are still no plans to provide a connection from River City Casino to the nearby trail.
Why is it necessary to provide a connection from a Casino to a Greenway Trail?
The casino simply installed the greenway as part of the larger greenway system that happened to run on its property.
Soon, in the not-too-distant future, the trail that ends just north of the casino (near RDP) willconnect to the River Des Peres greenway that continues to extend east/southeast (Phase 3, from I-55 to Alabama is under construction now; Phase 4, from Alabama to River City is under design/engineering now) and the current Mississippi River Greenway.
In the not-too-distant future either, a pedestrian bridge will be built over the mouth of the Rive Des Peres to connect the existing MRG trail to the northern section that will be built between the Arch grounds and the Carondolet Coke site.
Plus, I dont think too many retirees visiting the casino will decide to take a trek on the trail after some gambling…